Arellano kicks off home-and-away format, hosts dangerous San Sebastian

Arellano U coach Jerry Codiñera feels having home court advantage under the new format of NCAA Season 93 could be a double-edged sword.

While he’s glad that his players will be in familiar territory, the PBA legend turned mentor is also wary that the same scenario could throw off the players and make them overconfident.

That’s why he’s quick to remind his Chiefs to maximize that advantage when they host the San Sebastian Stags at 4 p.m. Thursday at Arellano Gym in Manila.

“It helps to have home court advantage because we’re familiar with the gym and we have to utilize that,” said Codiñera, whose Chiefs prevailed over the Mapua Cardinals, 91-82, last Saturday.

“But we shouldn’t bank on our home court alone. We have to outwork them too because we know what San Sebastian is capable of especially after watching them give San Beda problems.”

The Stags pushed the Red Lions to the limit before fading down the stretch in a 76-67 loss last Saturday.

But there were plenty of encouraging signs for coach Egay Macaraya as Michael Calisaan, RK Ilagan and Enzo Navarro worked well together for large parts of the game, giving the Stags a boost on both ends of the floor.

Still, their efforts were not enough to lift the Stags, who got outrebounded, 54-32, by the Lions.

“The character of the players is there,” said Macaraya. “We don’t have the tallest of players but the energy and effort is there. We’re going to get better as the season goes on.”

The Stags will have to deal with fleet-footed guard Kent Salado, who led the Chiefs with 24 points against the Cardinals.

“We can’t take them (Stags) for granted,” said Salado.

The San Sebastian Staglets and the Junior Chiefs meet in the first game at 2 p.m.